Flexible arch support



D66. 6, 1938. I Y WERKMAN 2,138,823

FLEXIBLE ARCH SUPPORT Filed May a, 1957 fieoaore Fl er/6mm) PatentedDec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES e TENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an arch support adapted to be applied to theedge of the sole of a boot or shoe, and preferably consisting of astamped metal plate having a flange or flanges engaging the face of thesole adjacent its edge.

An object of the invention is to construct the arch support in such away as to give the same suflicient flexibility to enable the plate toconform or adapt itself to the shape of the edge of the shoe at thepoint where it is applied, at the same time preserving sufficientrigidity in the arch support to insure that it will operate effectivelyas an arch support for the shoe.

The arch support is preferably applied to the inside edge of the soleadjacent the forward face of the heel of the shoe, and one of theobjects of the invention is to form the arch support with an upperflange having a form which will facilitate the application of thesupport to the shoe, but which, at the same time, will give the platesufficient flexibility to enable it to conform to the shape of the soleedge.

A further object of the invention is to improve the general constructionof arch supports of this type, with the idea of enabling the archsupport to be applied with great facility to the edge of the sole, atthe same time insuring sufficient flexibility to enable the support toadapt itself to the shape of the shoe edge without detracting from therigidity which the support must have to enable it to perform itsfunction of supporting the arch of the shoe.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel parts and combination of parts to bedescribed hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an efficientflexible arch support.

A preferred embodiment-of the invention is described in the followingspecification, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a shoe illustrating an arch support embodyingmy invention applied to the same.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the arch support as viewed from its upper sideremoved from the shoe.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the arch support as viewed from the innerside.

Fig. 4 is a section taken about in the plane of the line 44 in Fig. 1,and passing through the arch support and the adjacent portion of theshoe to illustrate its relation to the sole of the shoe when inposition.

In practicing the invention, I construct the arch support preferably ofa plate of metal, from which the arch support is stamped. This plateshould have sufficient thickness to give it the necessary rigidity, andis preferably formed with one or more flanges to engage the face of thesole of the shoe adjacent to the edge where the device is applied. Theflange or flanges on the device facilitate securing it to the edge ofthe sole, but are constructed in such a way that the vertical plate orweb of the devicewill have sufficient flexibilityto enable it to conformto the shape of the edge to which it is applied.

Referring more particularly to the parts, I indicates the arch supportwhich, in Fig. 1, is illustrated as applied to the edge 2 of the sole 3of a shoe. The arch support is confined in its extent to the shank ofthe shoe forward of the heel and on one side only of the shoe. It ispreferably made as a stamping from sheet metal, and comprises a singlerigid plate having a web 4, which is disposed in a substantiallyVertical plane against the edge 2 of the sole when the device is in use.This web 4 is flanged, and preferably carries an upper flange 5, whichis in a horizontal plane and substantially at right angles to the planeof the web 4. The upper flange 5 preferably has a serrated edge so thatprojecting teeth 6 with notches 1 between the same, are formed along it.These teeth 6 are preferably disposed in pairs, and gaps in the form ofslits 8 are cut in the flange extending from a point adjacent or at theweb 4 in an inward direction toward the interior of the shoe. These gapsprevent the flange 5 from giving undesirable stiffness to the support.The points, or teeth 6, facilitate positioning the flange 5 when shovingit inwardly over the edge 2 of the sole. The support is preferablyapplied in the position illustrated just forward of the forward face ofthe heel 9 of the shoe.

The web 4 has a concavo-convex form in a vertical plane, so as to enableit to fit approximitely, or substantially to the shape of the edge 2where it is applied.

The support also preferably includes a lower flange l0, which is adaptedto flt under the sole 3 as indicated in Fig. 4. This lower flange Ill ispreferably formed with gaps II, or reentrant angles, that extendoutwardly from the points l2 in the vertical plane of the web 4 of theplate. In the construction illustrated, there are two of these gaps H,so that the flange I0 presents the form of two end lobes l3 and anintermediate lobe l4. These lobes preferably have curved edges l5 so asto give them the form of tongues, and to facilitate their being shovedunder the sole.

Suitable means is preferably provided for securing the support in place.For this purpose I prefer to provide perforations IS in the lobes,through which a small fastener such as a small nail I! may be driven(see Fig. 4).

It should be understood that in practice, the web 4 of the support wouldhave a shape enabling it to fit approximately to the shoe with which itwas intended to be worn. However, as there is a slight variation inshoes, the support has sufficient flexibility to enable it to be appliedto the edge of the sole of any shoe having an approximate shape to theshoe with which the support was intended to be worn.

It should be understood that this plate is not only concavo-convex inplan at the web 4, but the entire support is curved in a vertical plane(see Fig. 3). This curvature enables the arch support to conform to thedownward inclination of the shank of the shoe as it passes away from theheel 9.

It will be evident that although the flanges of the device enable it tobe securely held on the edge of the sole by reason of the gaps that arecut in these flanges, they do not detract from the flexibility of thesupport as a Whole. In other Words, they do not prevent bending of theweb 4 in conforming it to the shape of the edge 2 of the sole. 7

What I claim is:

1. A flexible arch support to be applied to the edge of the sole of aboot or shoe, said arch support consisting of a single rigid platehaving a web confined in extent to the shank of the shoe, and on oneside of the shoe only, conforming approximately to the shape of the edgeof the sole at the shank and just forward of the heel of the shoe, saidplate having an upper flange for engaging over the upper face of thesole, and having a lower flange to extend under the sole, said flangeshaving gaps formed therein extending through the same from the said weband enabling the web-to flex and adapt itself to the shape of the soleedge.

A flexible arch support to be applied to the edge of a sole of a boot orshoe, said arch support consisting of a single rigid plate having a webconfined in extent to the shank of the shoe on one side only, conformingsubstantially with the shape of the edge of the sole at the shank andjust forward of the heel of the shoe, said plate having an upper flangefor engaging over the upper face of the sole, said upper flange having aserrated edge, and having gaps extending completely through the same,said plate further having a lower flange to extend under the sole, saidlower flange consisting of a plurality of lobes with gaps formedtherebetween extending from a point adjacent the web, said gaps in saidflange and between said lobes enabling the web to flex and adapt itselfto the shape of the sole edge, said lobes having perforations therein topermit fasteners to be applied through the same to secure the plate tothe sole.

THEODORE WERKMAN.

